With less than a week to go to the Local Elections the political temperature here in Westminster and across the UK is rising...

But this Sunday we will be north of the border in Scotland for our final round of political leader interviews in a special live programme from Edinburgh.

The Scots are voting for their Parliament this time round with the polls seeming to suggest that the Scottish National Party are on a roll - but why?

Is it disaffection with Labour, ennui with the performance of MSPs, the continuing fallout from the government's policy in Iraq that are driving voters into the arms of the SNP - or is something else stirring?

A positive embrace of independence maybe?

Or even a renewed self confidence that Scotland can thrive as a vibrant, small country within the EU.

I'll be speaking to the SNP leader, Alex Salmond.

Talk of coalition

But Scotland's voting system won't give any one party an overall majority.

So the SNP would be dependent on coalition partners if it wanted to drive through big constitutional change.

What chance the Lib Dems backing calls from the SNP for a referendum on independence?

I'll also be talking to Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell.

Tory Bath?

Now let's spool back.

Do you remember the 1992 general election - the surprise victory of the Tories, made flesh by the beaming face of David Amess in Basildon?

But the other memorable image of that night was the defeat of the then Tory Party Chairman, Chris Patten - losing in Bath.

Ever since then, the Liberal Democrats have been strengthening their position across the West Country.

Until now.

The Conservative Party has a renewed spring in its step and Karl Mercer has been to Bath to do what you do when you're in a spa town... test the water.

Allo, allo Paola

Let's go back to where I started - the French elections. It's now a two horse race.

Who'll come home winner and by what margin is anyone's guess.

The centre right frontrunner, Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist candidate Segolene Royal, are desperately trying to woo the seven million voters who backed third-placed François Bayrou in the first round.

I'll be talking to our reporter Paola Buonadonna in Paris to find out the latest.